The Well-Beloved. A Sketch of a Temperament. With an Etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a Map of Wessex. [Vol. XVII of The Wessex Novels]. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY

8vo., First Edition, on laid paper, with etched frontispiece (original tissue guard present) and double-page map in the text, endpapers mildly age-marked, neat signature on frontispiece recto; original series binding of decorative ribbed dark-green cloth gilt, 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover, gilt back, gilt top, uncut, one or two small age-marks on covers else a bright, firm copy. WIth the trade ticket of Blackwell's of Oxford on front paste-down, and blind-stamp of Lyel of Hull on front free endpaper. Hardy's last novel, and his final prose work beyond two or three short sketches written to fulfil engagements. (See 'The Later Years, p.60). Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised, the topography (names and distances) corrected where necessary, chapters frequently retitled, and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' (Purdy p.281). Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot (in this case 'The 'Isle' of the Story') and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production, these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. Although published by Hardy's subsequent publisher Macmillan, the present volume was produced in matching format as 'Volume XVIII' to retain uniformity (the last volume of Hardy's work to be so issued). Several of Hardy's subsequent works were published in matching format (as here) and allocated appropriate volume numbers. All volumes in this series are scarce, especially in this condition. See Purdy, pp.92-96, 281.